Christmas is one of the many holidays celebrated around the world, including in Malawi. With over 80% of their population Christian, Christmas is a very popular holiday within the community.
Before the main event, many attend church on Christmas Eve to sing carols and on Christmas morning, a special Church service is held, often to showcase a re-enactment of the nativity by Malawian children. That’s not where the performances end though. Many put on their own shows in their local villages. In fact, many young children visit other families door-to-door, to share their very own spectacular performances with lots of singing and dancing, some even with homemade instruments!
Malawians often share handmade gifts with each other. For the evening, rice and chicken is a popular dish, replacing their staple food, Nsima. For drinks, their tipple of choice is none other than Fanta! Of course, it’s not just about the food, dancing or gifts. It’s a time for the community to come together, to celebrate and give back to one another.
Similarly to other parts of the world, the festivities continue into the new year. As well as New Year’s Eve, in Malawi, Chilimike also takes place, which is the name given to the celebrations on 1st January. It certainly sounds like the holiday season gets in full swing in Malawi.
Wherever you are, we'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy festive period and all the best for the new year. Also, a huge thank you to all those who have supported us during 2020!